Charity challenges attitudes to childhood

An 18-month inquiry that aims to change public attitudes towards childhood was launched today by the Children’s Society.

The charity said it had started the independent Good Childhood Inquiry, chaired by Labour peer Lord Layard, because it believed too many children in the UK were experiencing poor childhoods.

England’s children’s commissioner, Al Aynsley-Green, will sit on the inquiry panel, while the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, is its patron.

Children’s Society chief executive Bob Reitemeier said there was a risk that the inquiry, like others, would not have the impact it desired, but said the involvement of Lord Layard would give it credibility and a focus on making clear recommendations.

The charity said refugee children and disabled children were among those most seriously affected by issues such as mental health problems.